University Benchmarks

Ranking the Top 100 Academic Universities

UniversityBenchmarks.com ranks the universities that attract and produce the best academic students.

There are many 'University Rankings' on the internet. Most rankings rely heavily on subjective metrics like 'reputation' and 'selectivity'. UniversityBenchmarks is purely an academic ranking model. The rankings are based on the reported academic and financial metrics of the colleges. There are no subjective factors like 'reputation' that are used. The calculations are performed using normal statistical models. All universities are considered equal and there is no weighting of the ranking categories.

The university 2014-2015 dataset is comprised of over 2400 US Universities & Colleges and comes from multiple sources using the most favorable reported metrics for a university.

The universities are ranked against each other in each filtered set. It is an iterative process whereby lower ranking universities are removed and the set is re-ranked until the final set of 100 is reached.

Selecting 'Rank Top 10 Only' will show the Top 10 for each filter category ranked against each other.

The academic rankings of the universities within the major conferences (ACC, Big12, Big10, Pac12, SEC) are available.

The 2017 rankings will be available in August.

Notes:
  • It is possible for universities to be ranked higher/lower than one another depending on the filter set.
  • Conference averages are based on the top 8 schools in the conference.
  • Public Schools are highlighted
  • Clicking on the university's seal icon will take you to the university's website.

Ranking Fields

Rank - Overall rank based on the average of the ranking fields (Scores, Difficulty, Smartest, Brainpower, Faculty and Research).

Scores - SAT & ACT scores. The university's test scores are corrected for dropout rate when score level is Good, Excellent or Elite. This will slightly boost scores for highly competitive schools.

Difficulty - Academic rigor is estimated based on how difficult it is to get an "A" at the university. An estimated GPA at the university is calculated for the average US Student. University grade inflation, average GPA, and STEM density are factors.

Smartest - University that can field the highest scoring students based on the average US University size. Higher Smartest Rank = "Smartest for the Average University"

Brainpower - The average "smartest" rank using 5 reference populations (CalTech, MIT, Stanford, GaTech and Berkeley). Higher Brainpower Rank = "Higher Density of Smart Students". The university ranked higher can mathematically field 'X' number of smarter students than universities ranked below them.

Faculty - Ranking based on number of % of faculty with awards and academy membership.

Research - Ranking is achieved by iteratively ranking the average of 3 research metrics (r-pop, r-stem, r-other ). The lowest ranked college is then removed and the new set is re-ranked. The result is the schools with potentially the strongest research environments per student bubble up to the top regardless of size or research budget.

  • r-pop - Average research spending for student population
  • r-stem - STEM research spending
  • r-other - Other/Medical/Health research spending

Salary ROI - "Salary Return on Investment" is not used in the overall ranking but is provided for additional information. Using the undergraduate average starting and mid-career salaries, the rank is based on a 20yr salary accumulation (with raises) minus the cost of a 4 year education at the university. Salaries are normalized across the country using the average COLA for the university's geo-economic region (7 regions total). The COLA effect is diminished by the level of the university. Elite, Excellent and Good universities have a greater distribution of graduates across the country and a diminishing COLA effect. The resultant value would be the graduate's spending potential over the 20yr period.

Overall ROI - "Overall Return on Investment" is not used in the overall ranking but is provided for additional information. The average of Overall Rank and Salary ROI. This would be the "Best academic bang for the buck". Colleges that produce the best education, at the best price, with the best return will be ranked higher.

Color Key - ranks are colorized as follows 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 50 100

The 2016 University Academic Rankings

University of Arkansas

2016 University Academic Rankings

The University of Arkansas (often shortened to U of A, UARK, or just UA) is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university located in Fayetteville, in the U.S. state of Arkansas. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System which comprises six main campuses within the state - the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the University of Arkansas at Monticello, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. More than 26,000 students are enrolled in over 188 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. Founded as Arkansas Industrial University in 1871, its present name was adopted in 1899 and classes were first held on January 22, 1872. It is noted for its strong architecture, agriculture (particularly animal science and poultry science), business, communication disorders, creative writing, history, law, and Middle Eastern studies programs.

The University of Arkansas completed its "Campaign for the 21st Century" in 2005, in which the university raised more than $1 billion for the school, used in part to create a new Honors College and significantly increase the university's endowment. Among these gifts were the largest donation given to a business school at the time ($50 million), and the largest gift given to a public university in America ($300 million), both given by the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation.

Total enrollment for the fall semester of 2014 was 26,237. The university campus comprises exactly 360 buildings on 512 acres (2.07 km2), including Old Main, the first permanent academic building erected, and The Inn at Carnall Hall, which serves as an on-campus hotel and restaurant facility. Academic programs are in excess of 200. The current ratio of students to faculty is approximately 19:1.

History

The University of Arkansas was founded in 1871 on the site of a hilltop farm that overlooked the Ozark Mountains, giving it the nickname "The Hill".

The university was established under the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act of 1862. The university's founding also satisfied the provision in the Arkansas Constitution of 1868 that the General Assembly was to "establish and maintain a State University."

Location of the university was determined by bids from state towns and counties. The citizens of Fayetteville and Washington County. pledged $130,000 toward securing the university, a sum that proved to be more than other offers. This was in response to the competition created by the Arkansas General Assembly's Organic Act of 1871, providing for the "location, organization and maintenance of the Arkansas Industrial University with a normal department therein." Classes started on January 22, 1872.

Completed in 1875, Old Main, a two-towered brick building designed in the Second Empire style, was the primary instructional and administrative building. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its design was based on the plans for the main academic building at the University of Illinois, which has since burned down. However, the clock and bell towers were switched at Arkansas. The northern taller tower is the bell tower, and the southern shorter tower is the clock tower. One legend for the tower switch is that the taller tower was put to the north as a reminder of the Union victory during the Civil War. A second legend is that the contractor accidentally swapped the tower drawings after having had too much to drink. Although the southern tower was designed with clock faces, it never held a working clock until October 2005. The bell tower has always had some t ... [more on wikipedia]

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "University of Arkansas", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0

University of Arkansas Details

University of Arkansas Details
detail value
stateArkansas
conferenceSoutheastern Conference
publicPublic
scores1675/1117/25
levelAboveAverage
rank[171
overall ROI rank[119
sizemedium-large
undergrads21836
grads4401
price35156
drop37
stem18
research119
scores validTrue
Common Questions...

What are the academic rankings for University of Arkansas?

1. number 171 for Academics.

2. number 119 for ROI (Return on Investment).

What universities are similar to University of Arkansas?

1. University of Massachusetts-Amherst

2. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

3. University of Oregon

4. Clemson University

5. The University of Tennessee-Knoxville

6. Virginia Commonwealth University

7. Old Dominion University



National Academic Rankings

(summary of all ranking placements)

University of Arkansas National Academic Rankings

University of Arkansas National Academic Rankings
category rank scores difficulty smartest brainpower faculty research salary ROI overall ROI
Top2501712162391361259412172119
Div1878393817760793769
Div1 Nonivy787891767252713561
Div1 Public595383585741693144
Public897893706454783367
Power5544962525243592945
Southeastern Conference1110131111513710
South East Region326685262412282017
State of Arkansas135111131
Top Ten Top2501712162391361259412172119
Top Ten State of Arkansas135111121


Peer Universities / Similar Universities

(mathematically similar student body, size, academics, stem, salary... etc)

University of Arkansas Peer Universities, Similar Universities to University of Arkansas

University of Arkansas Peer Universities, Similar Universities to University of Arkansas
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
99.88
University of Massachusetts-AmherstMassachusettsMid - American Conference / At...PublicAboveAverage88144
99.75
University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage13754
99.61
University of OregonOregonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAboveAverage174221
98.60
Clemson UniversitySouth CarolinaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAboveAverage9851
93.28
The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleTennesseeSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage116188
92.82
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginiaAtlantic 10 ConferencePublicAboveAverage178207
92.81
Old Dominion UniversityVirginiaConference USAPublicAverage356368
92.77
University of Nebraska-LincolnNebraskaBig Ten ConferencePublicAboveAverage11998
92.66
Utah State UniversityUtahMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage165120
92.57
University of KansasKansasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage172130
92.52
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaSouth CarolinaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage93130
92.45
University of DelawareDelawareColonial Athletic AssociationPublicAboveAverage107138
92.36
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLouisianaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage14888
91.93
University of Missouri-ColumbiaMissouriSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage12198
91.82
CUNY Hunter CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAboveAverage193228
91.81
University of Nevada-RenoNevadaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage289340
91.79
San Diego State UniversityCaliforniaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage183218
91.75
Texas Tech UniversityTexasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage176104
91.54
University of LouisvilleKentuckyAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAverage258224
91.31
Syracuse UniversityNew YorkAtlantic Coast ConferencePrivateAboveAverage172216
91.20
CUNY Bernard M Baruch CollegeNew YorkCity University of New York At...PublicAboveAverage135182
86.55
University of KentuckyKentuckySoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage159130
86.54
East Carolina UniversityNorth CarolinaAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage312325
86.51
George Mason UniversityVirginiaAtlantic 10 ConferencePublicAboveAverage156143
86.45
West Virginia UniversityWest VirginiaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage320192
86.24
Kent State University at KentOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage347358
86.24
Northern Arizona UniversityArizonaBig Sky ConferencePublicAverage336333
86.18
Ohio UniversityOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage215174
86.10
Washington State UniversityWashingtonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage189193
86.02
University of Akron Main CampusOhioMid American ConferencePublicAverage331251
85.99
University of CincinnatiOhioAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage202106
85.74
Towson UniversityMarylandColonial Athletic AssociationPublicAverage264365
85.65
Missouri State University-SpringfieldMissouriMissouri Valley ConferencePublicAverage301266
85.62
University of ConnecticutConnecticutBig East ConferencePublicGood87139
85.60
Eastern Michigan UniversityMichiganMid American ConferencePublicAverage445385
85.42
University of GeorgiaGeorgiaSoutheastern ConferencePublicGood8265
85.21
University of MemphisTennesseeAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAverage359314
85.17
Oakland UniversityMichiganHorizon LeaguePublicAverage417270
85.15
Temple UniversityPennsylvaniaAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage168199
84.93
DePaul UniversityIllinoisBig East ConferencePrivateAboveAverage193150
84.89
University of North TexasTexasConference USAPublicAboveAverage192165
84.82
CUNY Queens CollegeNew YorkEast Coast ConferencePublicAverage307400
84.68
University of North Carolina at GreensboroNorth CarolinaSouthern ConferencePublicAverage449439
84.52
Texas State UniversityTexasSun Belt ConferencePublicAverage364290
84.45
California State University-FullertonCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAverage362435
84.42
Florida State UniversityFloridaAtlantic Coast ConferencePublicAboveAverage76104
84.21
Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew JerseyBig Ten ConferencePublicAboveAverage56115
84.15
University of Rhode IslandRhode IslandColonial Athletic Association ...PublicAverage270328
83.78
Saint Louis UniversityMissouriAtlantic 10 ConferencePrivateAboveAverage169165
83.77
University of Puerto Rico-Rio PiedrasPuerto RicoIndependent Southeast RegionPublicAboveAverage176232


Academic Peer Universities / Similar Academics

(mathematically similar academics)

University of Arkansas Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to University of Arkansas

University of Arkansas Academic Peer Universities, Similar Academic Universities to University of Arkansas
match image university state conference public level rank overall ROI
98.73
Pacific - 12 Conference (Low)-Pacific 12 Conference-Conf-AboveAverage-115
97.81
Mountain West Conference (Average)-Mountain West Conference-Conf-AboveAverage-193
97.44
Big Sky Conference (Average)-Big Sky Conference-Conf-AboveAverage-170
97.00
Temple UniversityPennsylvaniaAmerican Athletic ConferencePublicAboveAverage168199
96.52
Conference USA (Average)-Conference USA-Conf-AboveAverage-148
96.40
University of KentuckyKentuckySoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage159130
95.82
DePaul UniversityIllinoisBig East ConferencePrivateAboveAverage193150
95.70
New Jersey Institute of TechnologyNew JerseyIndependent Northeast RegionPublicAboveAverage195185
95.50
University of KansasKansasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAboveAverage172130
95.48
University of OregonOregonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAboveAverage174221
95.40
The University of AlabamaAlabamaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage175112
95.35
America East (Average)-America East-Conf-AboveAverage-202
95.10
Mississippi State UniversityMississippiSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage197130
94.92
San Diego State UniversityCaliforniaMountain West ConferencePublicAverage183218
94.82
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeLouisianaSoutheastern ConferencePublicAboveAverage14888
94.55
Oklahoma State UniversityOklahomaBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage182124
94.48
Utah State UniversityUtahMountain West ConferencePublicAboveAverage165120
94.18
Virginia Commonwealth UniversityVirginiaAtlantic 10 ConferencePublicAboveAverage178207
93.92
Florida International UniversityFloridaConference USAPublicAverage163170
92.92
Texas Tech UniversityTexasBig Twelve ConferencePublicAverage176104
92.92
University of California-RiversideCaliforniaBig West ConferencePublicAverage167212
92.82
Syracuse UniversityNew YorkAtlantic Coast ConferencePrivateAboveAverage172216
91.84
Saint Louis UniversityMissouriAtlantic 10 ConferencePrivateAboveAverage169165
91.64
University of Hawaii at ManoaHawaiiMountain West Conference / Big...PublicAverage204245
90.06
Truman State UniversityMissouriGreat Lakes Valley ConferencePublicAboveAverage208189
88.40
Elon UniversityNorth CarolinaColonial Athletic AssociationPrivateGood200178
86.16
Washington State UniversityWashingtonPacific 12 ConferencePublicAverage189193
84.49
Gettysburg CollegePennsylvaniaCentennial ConferencePrivateExcellent170148
83.02
Occidental CollegeCaliforniaSouthern California Intercoll ...PrivateExcellent158162
80.64
Union CollegeKentuckyMid - South Conference / Appal...PrivateBelowAverage162178